Baton Rouge · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Baton Rouge public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Capital House district tax extension
The council, as district commissioners, extended the downtown district's 2% sales and hotel taxes, which critics called double taxation with a timeline stretching to 2058.
Ryan White HIV/AIDS federal funding
The parish accepted about $1.05 million in two federal grants; a frequent critic objects every time, arguing taxpayers deserve to know about local matches. Council members defended the local jobs and health-care savings the money supports.
Cortana Corridor sales tax rebate
The council rebated $2.29 million in 2% city sales tax to the Cortana Corridor Economic Development District. A resident questioned whether EDDs double-tax shoppers and serve developers' agendas; Councilman Dunn Jr. and Build Baton Rouge staff defended the district's grocery, retail and infrastructure gains along the Florida corridor.
Economic development district transparency and taxation
Recurring speaker Penny May Landry pressed the council on double taxation within EDDs, missing transcripts of EDD meetings, and whether district boards serve taxpayers or their own agendas. The Bayou Fountain EDD agreement was deleted, in part on her argument.